Pokemon Scarlet & Violet - 18th Nov 2022! **OFFICIAL INFO ONLY**

If I had to guess, I think the shift to code cards (approximately around gen 6) was probably done so people wouldn't have to keep dragging their systems in to download it + not wanting to let employees pilfer the download carts. I do recall one store back during this hey day who didn't like people loitering around too, lmao.
The point is that why do we even need to physically go to stores. Why can't we just go online to grab the Mystery Gift or whatever they're calling it now?

And don't say "what about NSO" because I'm pretty sure you could implement a way to distribute gifts without needing players to buy into the online subscription. Nintendo did make NSO free for a year when the Switch launched, and you don't need NSO to access the eShop.

This whole thing is a problem of their own making.
 
The point is that why do we even need to physically go to stores. Why can't we just go online to grab the Mystery Gift or whatever they're calling it now?
You could always have asked that ever since wi-fi was a thing and the answer is usually akin to "you want to have extra incentives to the people stocking, selling and advertising your game, TCG and other merchandise". There's probably various boring behind the scenes deals that come from stuff like this.

Toys R Us in particular went nuts for this, I recall large signage and some events would specifically kit out the game area to emphasize pokemon products around where you could pick up the distribution signal (or, in the GBA era, the trade stations).
And don't say "what about NSO" because I'm pretty sure you could implement a way to distribute gifts without needing players to buy into the online subscription. Nintendo did make NSO free for a year when the Switch launched, and you don't need NSO to access the eShop.

This whole thing is a problem of their own making.
This part's kind of irrelevant to this conversation for this considering you have to redeem a code online anyway, but, for the record, I think that when it comes to Mystery Gift it doesn't require NSO. Like I think anyone right now could go online and redeem their shiny raidon code alongside picking up the shiny treasures of ruin.
NSO is required for stuff like trading, battling and raids.
 
You could always have asked that ever since wi-fi was a thing and the answer is usually akin to "you want to have extra incentives to the people stocking, selling and advertising your game, TCG and other merchandise". There's probably various boring behind the scenes deals that come from stuff like this.

Toys R Us in particular went nuts for this, I recall large signage and some events would specifically kit out the game area to emphasize pokemon products around where you could pick up the distribution signal (or, in the GBA era, the trade stations).
I mean figured as much but like. Why GameStop of all places. Are they really that valuable of a partner such that TPCi needs to cater to them at the expense of the players.
 
The point is that why do we even need to physically go to stores. Why can't we just go online to grab the Mystery Gift or whatever they're calling it now?

And don't say "what about NSO" because I'm pretty sure you could implement a way to distribute gifts without needing players to buy into the online subscription. Nintendo did make NSO free for a year when the Switch launched, and you don't need NSO to access the eShop.

This whole thing is a problem of their own making.
You already don't need NSO to get Mystery Gifts. The only things you need NSO for in the Switch Pokémon games are online battles, online trades, online raids (and only to do them with other people, you can still download event raids without NSO), and using the Union Circle online. None of the actual events are locked off without NSO.
 
iirc a bunch of old in-person distributions were done via kiosks or whatnot where you downloaded the gift on site and it didn't have a restriction as to how many people could interact with it. It was still a limited time thing but you just had to show up within the timeframe (which was usually more than a day) to guarantee the gift. It's crazy how it's somehow gotten worse for accessibility despite Nintendo making their handhelds able to connect online because GameStop is desperately clinging onto relevance.

Hey, anyone remember Pokemon Pass? (I still have it on my phone...)
 
Yeah, it'd be nice if this generated enough bad PR for TPCi that they stopped doing this limited code nonsense. Both of the gamestops closest to me are closed down. Not that it would have mattered since I wouldn't have been able to get to either at opening. For Eternatus, Gamestop similarly ran out of cards pretty quickly, but I was able to get a relative in Canada to go to EB games and get a code card for me. This time even EB games ran out immediately.

Maybe by the shiny legendary distribution in gen 10 GameStop will finally be out of business and TPCi will just give up on trying to entice people into brick-and-mortar stores that don't have any other Pokemon merch to buy anyways because scalpers bought it all too.
 
So fortunately for me… there are 4 EB Games stores in my area (Newcastle, Australia). I only went to 2 on Friday, One about 10 mins after opening and the other 20-30 mins later. Both times I actually saw them opening the plastic around the set of cards. Looked like there were about 50 for each store. I also checked with both stores and they were firm on one per customer, which was nice. I did originally plan to go to all four to help out some people online but ended up having to go home due to being called into work.

It really does seem silly though. This would’ve been perfect as a raid to cap off S/V right before ZA, no? We’re almost completely past physical game cards at this point, why do we need a physical code? Feel real sorry for people not in the correct countries or whose stores gave cards out early or many to a single person.


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Yeah, it'd be nice if this generated enough bad PR for TPCi that they stopped doing this limited code nonsense. Both of the gamestops closest to me are closed down. Not that it would have mattered since I wouldn't have been able to get to either at opening. For Eternatus, Gamestop similarly ran out of cards pretty quickly, but I was able to get a relative in Canada to go to EB games and get a code card for me. This time even EB games ran out immediately.

Maybe by the shiny legendary distribution in gen 10 GameStop will finally be out of business and TPCi will just give up on trying to entice people into brick-and-mortar stores that don't have any other Pokemon merch to buy anyways because scalpers bought it all too.
It'd be nice... except it won't and everyone'll have forgot about the incident in a week
 
Something that makes this even worse is if you have both games, you can't get both Shinies in theory because codes are one use and one per customer. In practice, scalpers and/or uncaring Game Stop employees... -_-

It'd be nice... except it won't and everyone'll have forgot about the incident in a week
I'm still mad about not getting Zarude because of signing up for the news letter not working. Also, Every Legendary being Shiny Locked in SV gives me the feeling this might be the ONLY time it may be possible to get Shiny Koridon and Miridon. Collectors are going to keep being reminded by the gaps in their collections for a really long time.
 
still mad about not getting Zarude because of signing up for the news letter not working. Also, Every Legendary being Shiny Locked in SV gives me the feeling this might be the ONLY time it may be possible to get Shiny Koridon and Miridon. Collectors are going to keep being reminded by the gaps in their collections for a really long time.
They should at least be available through Pokemon GO in 3-4 years, assuming of course that the game and/or global economy lasts that long.
 
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